The Micronuclei Frequency in Buccal Epithelial Cells of Gas Station Attendants in Yogyakarta (Indonesia).

Introduction: Gas station employees may be exposed to dangerous compounds that could cause cancer. This study aimed to analyze the effect of benzene exposure on the frequency of micronuclei in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells of Yogyakarta, Indonesia petrol station employees. Materials and methods: The exposed group included 15 gas station attendants, and the control group included 15 individuals who had never been exposed to benzene in gasoline. A cytobrush was used to collect buccal epithelial cells, which were subsequently spread onto slides. The specimens were subjected to Feulgen--Rosenbeck staining. Then, 1,000 cells were counted to determine the presence of micronuclei using a light microscope, and the results were statistically analyzed using an independent t-test (p < 0.05). Results: The mean frequencies of micronuclei were significantly greater in the exposed group than in the control group (p 0.001). The frequency of buccal mucosal micronuclei did not correlate with the length of exposure (working hours) or sex. Conclusion: Gas station attendants in Yogyakarta who are exposed to benzene from petrol vapors had more micronuclei than normal, which puts them at risk of substantial cytogenetic damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]